Science & Technology Animation : 2003 Japan

2003-Dec-16 : Science & Technology and Animation – Twenty stamps of eight designs in two shets of ten were issued. Designs are Tetsuwan Atomu (Astro Boy); Bowman Doll; Nagaoka Hantoaro; H-II rocket; Morph 3. Stamp designer – Morita Motoharu

Mike Manley - The Thing

2018.10.13 Lehigh Valley Comic Con, Schnecksville, Pa
"It's Clobberin' time!"

I knew Mike Manely was currently working on the daily newspaper strips The Phantom and Judge Parker, and was co-creator of Dark Hawk for Marvel Comics. But I was not sure which character I would request.

I asked if he was given a piece of paper and asked to draw whatever he wanted to, what would he choose? His answer The Thing.

I selected the Science and Technology first day cover to coincide with the Thing's origins of Space Travel and radiation, and as the pilot of Reed Richards doomed rocket ship.

Marc McKenzie - Macross Robot

2017.04.29 East Coast Comic Con, Secaucus, NJ

Marc McKenzie is a freelance artist with experience in character design, illustration and writing. He has worked for the New York Times, the Animation Collective and Curious Pictures.

Mckenzie is heavily influenced by Manga, Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Marc was sitting at the National Cartoonist Society table during the convention. When I first approached the table, one of the other gentlemen said come back when Marc is here, he is excellent.

I took the advice and came back to request a sketch.

Marc provided a cute macross robot, well worth the effort to return as suggested..

Mckenzie's Harsh Lines sketchbook

DeviantArt

Geof Darrow - Mechanical

2015.10.09 NY Comic Con, NYC

In my mind Geof Darrow is a brilliant artist, however... His table was next to Frank Cho. I picked up a book from Cho and noticed that Darrow was drawing on his table (waiting for customers). I had picked up a sketch from his creation Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot a couple of years earlier (although not on a first day cover).

I approached Darrow and asked if he would provide a commissioned sketch for me. His response was "Why would I want to do that?", I respond by explaining my collection and my admiration for Big Guy and Shaolin Cowboy. His response "I don't know, I'm kind of lazy". I pointed to a gorgeous finely detailed sketch of a dragon and said "That is not lazy", he returned with "I get paid for that", all the while kind of laying back in his chair., or a cat toying with a mouse... 

I told him I was more than willing to pay for services provided, he took the envelope  (Science and Technology FDC) and told me to come back in 15 minutes and he would think about it. When I returned I saw this beautiful mechanical dinosaur-human hybrid, which reminded me of HR Geiger's work, although Darrow has listed as his influences Moebius (Jean Giraud), Tezuka Osamu (Astro Boy), Herge (Tin Tin) and Jack Kirby (they worked together at Hanna-Barbera). It was a pleasure getting the opportunity to interact with Darrow, it gives more meaning to the sketch he provided.. I believe he truly loves what he does, it shows in his work....Thank you!

From Darrow's facebook page:

I Just thought I'd mention you can purchase my 2015 sketchbook from Craig Popplewell. I am too lazy to keep going to the post office but Craig has it down to a science. So if you want em he has them!! 

Scott Wegener - Atomic Robo

2013.10.12 Comic Con, NYC

Atomic Robo's adventures come from the creative team of Scott Wegener and Brian Clevinger. Starting as a 6-issue limited series by Red 5 Comics in 2007, Atomic Robo was nominated for a 2008 Eisner Award in the Best Limited Series category. Following the first series, Atomic Robo's adventures have continued...

Atomic Robo is a robot that possesses automatic intelligence, created by Nikola Tesla in 1923. Now a member of Tesladyne Industries Atomic Robo explores the fringes of scientific inquiry, responding to the paranormal and supernatural emergencies... One of my favorite story lines was issued in volume 7, in the aftermath of World War II Robo joins with a band of female mercenaries who use rocket-packs to stop a rogue japanese super-science counter-attack of America...

There are times when the opportunity dose not present itself for me to obtain a sketch on a FDC. Two such incidents happened this weekend. Fortunately I was able to get a couple of sketches of 2 other high flying characters...

Royden Lepp - Jet from the comic Rust

Another great title from Archaia - Rust, written and drawn by Royden Lepp is about a mysterious boy and a jet pack, involved in a World War where steampunk and robots are the technology used to fight the battles...

Geof Darrow - Rusty the Boy Robot

I was able to pick up thsi great sketch of Rusty from Darrow's series The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot. Written in 1995 by Frank Miller and drawn by Darrow, the Dark Horse series was adapted into an animated TV series (1999-2001) which uses a different plot than that used in the comic... The animated series brought more depth to the characters back-story of Rusty as a replacement for the Big Guy, the robot champion of Earth, which is piloted by Lt. Dwayne Hunter. Rusty's inexperience requires guidance from Hunter and the Big Guy...

I picked up another sketch from Darrow while at the show, which is posted in Matt's Collection...

Three different characters with some similarity all bring me delight

Fernando Ruiz - Iron Ghost

2012.05.05 Free Comic Book Day, Dewey's Comic City, Madison, NJ

Fernando Ruiz provided a sketch of the Iron Giant from his new anthology EPiCS.  An excellent artist working at Archie, an instructor at the Kubert School and a genuinely good guy, Ruiz mentioned this was his first sketch of the Iron Giant outside of the work provided for the book.  I had the opportunity to see several of the original pages from the Iron Ghost this day and they were excellent.

I also have received my copy of the book in digital format and found the Iron Giant to posses all of the elements of the classic comic story I enjoy. Ruiz was assisted on this story by Jack Morelli, letters and Fabio Redivo, colors...

Best of luck...

Bill Ellis - Dr. Horrible

2011.11.05 Wild Pig Comic Con, Somerset, NJ

Dr. Horrible - Science and Technology FDC

Bill Ellis writes the web-comic All New Issues with Dani O'Brien, and provides the art as well. The strip looks at relationships, being poor, the comic book industry, gaming through the eyes of a few flawed individuals...

When I got to Bill's table I was thumbing through his sketch cards, when I was struck by his rendition of Dr. Horrible, from Joss Whedon's 2008 web-based Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, featuring Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) as Dr. Horrible, Nathan Fillion (Firefly) as Captain Hammer and Felicia Day (Buffy) as Penny their shared love-interest. Without hesitation I requested a sketch from Bill...

This drawing was one of those special treats. I didn't have any expectations going in, I was not looking for this and I did not know what to expect... I was not disappointed, an excellent sketch!

When I first discovered Dr. Horrible, I thought it was great. Excellent concept 3-acts each around 15 minutes only available on the internet. It was brilliant, fun and who knew Harris could sing!

2009 - Dark Horse Comics issued a one-shot Dr. Horrible comic, available with 2 variant covers, credited to Zack Whedon, writer, Joelle Jones, pencils, Dan Jackson, colorist, Kristian Donaldson, covers...